Lord Jesus - Upholder In AfflictionsSpeaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: If you carefully analyze your life, you will agree that you found the Lord only through afflictions. Do not murmur against the Lord during the time of afflictions, but move closer to Him. He will transform all your afflictions into a great blessing. "Lord, remember David and all his afflictions." (Psalms 132:1)
This is a specific appeal of the priests to God for the sake of King David pleaded with the Lord for himself thus:
"You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?"(Psalms 56:8)
The Amplified Bible version interprets the term 'afflictions' as 'humiliations, hardships, and endurance'. David, the Psalmist defines 'afflictions' as 'the anguish of my soul'- my soul in adversities' (Psalm 31:7).
Yes my dear friend, soul-anguish is the climatic pitch of affliction. Nevertheless afflictions seem to be necessary in the course of our lives. When we realise that they do have a place in our lives, the Lord allows us to walk in their path. Simultaneously, He too walks along with us and props us up whenever necessary.
He has asserted, "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him." (Psalm 91:15)
The Psalmist declares, " It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word." (Psalm 119:71,67)
Many years back, I visited a Government hospital to pray for a close friend of mine, who was very ill. After I completed praying for him and consoling him, he requested me, saying, 'Brother, a man has been on his sickbed in this hospital for 18 months. Please pray for him too." When I approached the person whom he referred, he confessed to me, 'Sir, serving in the Army, I am a hard and tough man. There was not at all any relationship between God and me. All of a sudden, one day I met with a gory accident, which heavily fractured my backbone. I was wounded, all over my body. In great agony, I am lying here in this hospital for 18 long months. But the surprise is that, only in the midst of my afflictions and agony, I discovered Christ Jesus. Had this excruciating pain not touched me, I would not have found Jesus Christ at all." When he uttered these words, my heart broke. I prayed with compassion swelling in my heart, "O Lord, this gentlemen has at least now discovered you. So, please let him not suffer more. Mercifully, touch him, heal him and send him home." The Lord showed him His abundant compassion and helped him to return home completely healed.
Dear friend, if we carefully analyze our own lives, we will agree that all of us found our Lord only through afflictions. That is why, the psalmist joyfully asserts, "It is good that I have been afflicted." Affliction is indeed agonizing, it carries with it hardships, awe and soul anguish. But God turns our affliction to our advantage so that through it we secure salvation. Let us, therefore not murmur against our afflictions interest in our life, but look up at our Lord Jesus and move towards Him one more step closer. He will transform all our afflictions into blessing.
Prayer:
Gracious Heavenly Father,
You are the ever-merciful God. I understood Your love and compassion through afflictions. Grant me Your grace never to murmur against You when I encounter various afflictions, but to overcome them with Your strength. Help me to come closer to You through the afflictions that I face in my life. In Jesus' mighty name, I pray.
Amen. |